Obwona Dickens

• Facilitated linkages of farmer groups and cooperatives to private sector entities for access to on and off farm equipment like the post-harvest handling equipment. • Promoted agriculture financing through establishment of Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLAs) and facilitated smallholder farmers’ financial inclusion through training and promotion of innovative digital financial services. • Strengthened market access by small holder farmers through promoting collective marketing and leveraging public and private partnership and strengthening the local food value chains. • Monitored and assisted farmer organizations, cooperatives, groups and aggregators to adhere to terms of produce delivery contracts facilitated by WFP • Proposed ways to strengthen the integration of gender, youth, nutrition, and climate action in all activities being implemented under Agriculture Market Support (AMS) programme. • Coordinated the execution of value chain assessments (VCAs) and other complementary assessments in Karamoja sub-region taking into consideration market dynamics with neighbouring regions in Uganda and Kenya. • Coordinated farmer organisation/cooperatives development in collaboration with District Local Governments (DLGs) and other relevant stakeholders through undertaking profiling exercises, identifying, and recommending capacity strengthening needs. • Collaborated with the stake holders to ensure regular sensitisation meetings on agricultural issues including agri-nutrition, climate-smart agriculture, post-harvest management, and storage, strengthening farmer extension systems. • Initiated new strategic partnerships and collaboration, including mapping of key partners to engage based on smallholder, trader, and processor needs. • Conducted training of producer groups/Farmer Organization leaders and ensured quality monitoring of all programme beneficiary related capacity building activities. • Documented successes and prepared reports i.e., weekly, monthly quarterly including annual report and submitting to project manager timely for review and further sharing with World Food Programme.

• I Participated in conducting market assessments, value chain analysis, guiding small holder farmers and cooperatives on enterprise selection and mitigating challenges through strengthening market systems between actors, producers and end users. • Besides, I Planned and coordinated with local partners and private sector actors to develop agriculture market system that creates sustainable self-employment for the youth. • Developed capacity building materials for VSLAs, Agronomy and business management and as well participate in capacity building sessions. • Led in the recruitment and selection process for youth peer educators for groups and promote linkages between youth peer educators and private sector actors to identify and develop opportunities for effective youth engagement into businesses. • Worked with peer educators to ensure youth are linked to access farm inputs and represented in relevant networks such as farmers’ groups and business associations. • Mobilized targeted youth to fully participate in the programme for sustainability. • Identify value-addition opportunities that strengthen economic opportunities for young women and rural youth towards agriculture sectors. • Also, I Established and maintain good coordination and working relationships with sub-county and district leaders and represent GOAL in coordination meetings and soliciting their participation in all activities where appropriate. • Participated in the planning of learning events, exhibits, workshops that bring private and public sector entities together to review and examine private sector approaches and community challenges that can be resolve through public sector incentives. • I worked closely with the monitoring and evaluation staff to capture the required data for measuring output and impact of the programme. • Prepared and submitted timely weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports that reflect program progress during implementation. • Maintained proper filling system in regard to market development activities of the program. • Ensured good professional Conduct and adhere to practices and behaviours which do not cause abuse and arm to children, women and vulnerable adults in the community of operation

Project planning and implementation • Designed, rolled out project models and approaches, ensured that activities are fully captured in annual plans with properly aligned budget. • Participated in development /adaption of training manuals for implementation in the program area. • Ensured that program designs are in line with the Resilience &Livelihood national office strategy. • Participated in designing and integrating cross cutting themes such as gender and child protection in to Resilience &Livelihood projects. Technical support and training • Mobilized, organized and strengthened small holder farmers into strong business groups/cooperatives for bulk purchase of seeds for income generating crops and linked them to better markets upon production. • Provided technical assistance in agronomy and agribusiness, climate smart agriculture, marketing and Natural Resource Management. • Developed the farmer's ca’acity to improve production and productivity of selected enterprises through demonstrations and training of farmers on sustainable agricultural practices and technologies. • Provided mentoring and coaching to Farmer cooperatives, and strengthening their organizational and institutional capacities. Partnership and networking • Identified and build strategic linkages, collaborations and networks with partners and other stakeholders in implementation at the District level. • Participated and represented organization in key partner engagements and technical working forums at district and region level. • Worked closely with District initiatives through the District Cooperative alliance and Production department Office in scaling up iron rich beans and orange fleshed sweet potatoes. Research, Documentation and Evidence building • Effectively documented all information related to project successes, innovations and promising practices and disseminate through appropriate mechanisms. • Ensured identification of research areas, conducted research and documented key learning. • Actively participated in Resilience & livelihood output & outcome monitoring and evaluation processes.

• Established and maintained hybrid Maize demonstrations in Lango and Acholi sub region and organized farmers’ field days to disseminate the improved farming technologies. • Contracted farmer groups for multiplication of seeds for maize, beans and ground nuts among other crops and facilitated the purchase of these seeds on behalf of the company. • Organized and participated in several stakeholders/PSA meetings with agro input dealers, Mukwano group of companies, Mount Meru millers and Lira district local government. • Participated in carrying out seed inspection, in liaison with senior seed inspectors at the ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Forestry. • Provided monthly work plan and Production plan implementation progress reports. • Produced a data base for commercial farmers, NGOs and agro input dealers and other customers in area of Operations. Produce a database of technology demonstration sites identified. • Followed up the contract grower’s field and ensure the purchase of quality seed from them. • Worked with accounts in preparing estimated and actual cost of inputs and final product in accordance with business plan. • Assisted in planning and design of participatory approaches with Farmer Groups • selected to liaise with Victoria Seeds Limited • Collected and recorded data from Farmer Group demographics, previous harvest data and collect and record data from Farmer Group for initial planting season under the agreed upon arrangement • Managed all aspects of seed multiplication/production in the zonal areas of Lira, Apac, Dokolo, Kole and the entire Lango sub region. • Participated in identifying premium market situations for the company seeds.